July 6, 2015

MDC @ KC Fringe

Once again, Midwest
Dramatists Center playwrights are taking the Kansas City Fringe Festival by
storm with a wide variety of new works—including several stage premieres of
scripts that were first developed at MDC. We suggest you not miss a single one.

Carl Sagan takes you on a voyage to
the Voyager Space Mission and the Golden Record with its message for
extraterrestrial life to discover eons from now. The creators of last year's
Fringe favorite “Red Death” invite you to the magical dome of Gottlieb
Planetarium where live actors, animation, and outer space collide in a comedic,
informative, and unconventional theatrical event. Written by Bryan Colley and Tara
Varney, who also directs, and featuring Coleman Crenshaw as Carl Sagan.

A cinematic immersive experience. Set
literally at Union Station where, over three different spaces, three separate
cat-and-mouse games interact and cross paths as two brilliant sisters who have
created a device that can decrypt anything in the world are hunted by two
governments desperate to keep the secrets of the world secret. One part - Rear
Window: One Part - Third Man. Each audience member will be assigned one of
the three spaces and experience the story from that location. Each
location has its own secret only that audience will know. You will decide
to keep or share. It's up to you.

Luke is a talented and successful
artist who also works a “day job” as a graphic designer. He and his longtime
girlfriend Maya are devoted to each other. The only wrinkle in an otherwise
beautiful life is Luke's bipolar disorder, where taking his medication
regularly to keep life in balance sometimes conflicts with the creative urges
to which Luke needs to surrender. What choices does Luke make? What choices
does Maya tolerate? When you are bipolar and play fast and loose with your
medication, sometimes love means always having to say you're sorry. Written by
Michelle T. Johnson (“Wiccans in the Hood”). Directed by Teresa Leggard.
Starring Davis DeRock, Meredith Wolfe, Ted Collins and Sherri Roulette-Mosley.

“Presidential Briefs” is an American
history rock musical. Playwright/composer/actor Ry Kincaid plays a history
teacher who gives a rundown on all 44 U.S. Presidents in 44 original songs
performed in 50 minutes! Songs include “John Quincy Adams was Bald” and a rap
about William Howard Taft (“You Can't Knock Down 340”). Hysterical and
historical, “Presidential Briefs” is fun for those who know a little or a lot
about the Commanders-in-Chief.

The husband of a gay serviceman
attends his first Parent-Teacher conference. A pregnant lesbian deals with the
gender transition of her partner. An asexual man comes out to his boyfriend.
A gender fluid youth searches for a voice. Get four helpings of Alphabet Soup
in this hour of theater by playwrights from Kansas City's LGBTQIA community!

It's been eighteen months since
Trevvor's ex, Sue, left him. Since then, he's done everything she had wanted --
quit drinking, watched his diet, stayed on top of his diabetes. He's even named
his new dog after her. Tonight, his planned “surprise” meeting is set to happen
at her office. Will Sue take him back? Will it backfire? Because, as everyone
knows, love can be great, but sometimes, love bites. Actors: Laura Jacobs and
Scott Cox. Director: Warren Deckert.

The Art is a Lie is a thrilling new showcase of short plays with an
art theme. Each grapples with immediate, contemporary issues, such as domestic
abuse, relationships in a time of technology, commercialism, self-destruction,
and of course the ultimate question…What is art? There also may or may not be
an art heist involved (Shhhhh. It’s top secret).Come and see what
this lie is all about. Directed by Katie Lee and Elizabeth Bettendorf Bowman, the
ensemble cast includes Collin Vorbeck, Meghan Newman, Jordan Fox, Frank Oakley
III, Frank Lillig, Rasheedat Badejo, Anna Day, Petey McGee, Lindsay Lillig, and
Jeff Shehan.

The Midwest Dramatists Center is a creative home, family and support for emerging playwrights to further the growth of their art and the impact of that art on the greater theater community. We accomplish this by providing the three key elements that every artists needs to succeed in bring his or her vision to the public: A home, a community, and guidance.